Heavy Hydrocarbons

Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

This problem consists of a series of questions concerning hydrocarbons made from the stable isotopes of hydrogen and carbon. Assume that the probability of the occurrence of unstable isotopes is effectively zero. Assume also that the mass of an isotope is equal to the mass number.

Hydrogen also has two stable isotopes: $^1$H accounts for slightly more than $99.985\%$ of naturally occurring hydrogen. $^2$H, called deuterium, accounts for about $0.015\%$ of naturally occurring hydrogen.

What possibilities are there for the molecular mass of a stable molecule of methane CH$_4$? Which three are the most common? What is the probability that a randomly encountered methane molecule will be of each of these masses?

What would be the three most likely possibilities for the molecular masses of the next two alkanes: ethane, C$_2$H$_6$, and propane C$_3$H$_8$?

Am I likely to find a molecule of butane C$_4$H$_{10}$ of molecular mass $72$ in a litre of butane? (Avogadro's constant is approximately $6.02\times 10^{23}$).

Are there any alkanes for which the most commonly found molecule is not the one made entirely from $^{12}$C and $^1$H?

NOTES AND BACKGROUND

Mass spectrometry allows chemists to determine the molecular masses of compounds. The frequency of occurrence of common isotopes of elements is an important factor in understanding such as analysis. Mass spectrometry is of great industrial and scientific importance, and in practice, the results of an analysis are determined by comparison with a database of experimental spectrometry
information.

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